Research This Hot Needs A Professor Who Knows How To Be Cool

Stephen Cheung, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Ergonomics and Associate Professor of Physical Education and Kinesiology, can take the heat. And in his state-of-the art laboratory, he can create a deep freeze, wet or dry. All to learn more about how the human body responds to extreme temperatures.

And by learning more about how we adapt to hot and cold, he can help to design better protective clothing for firefighters, search and rescue teams, and others who work in the most difficult environments in the world.

It all started with his own experiences as an avid cyclist. “I knew I couldn’t cycle as far on a hot day. What I learned is that the brain can’t recruit muscles as effectively when it overheats”, says Stephen.

But his research literally has life and death implications. “If you have a helicopter crash or water accident in the North Atlantic, how long will it be before the victims can’t control their breathing or swimming?” Questions that matter. Answers that make a difference.

Hot as hell. Cold as ice. The research world of Stephen Cheung and his students. Want to know more? Click here.

Read more on the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) - Showcasing Research Excellence in Canada's website: Extreme Exposure